IPCC’s 6th synthesis report. Time to change the narrative.

Time to use the forbidden words, Liability and Reparations.

A few days ago, the "Synthesis Report (SYR) for the Sixth Assessment Report (AR6)" of the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) was published[i]. One more in a long line of similar reports. With the first report released in 1990, IPCC has, tirelessly, with successive detailed and scientifically substantiated reports[ii], struggled to convince those who decide our fate on this planet that we are on a deadly head-on collision course with the devastating effects of climate change, which we ourselves created.

The details of the scientific findings and conclusions of the 6^th report, are not really that important anymore.

In the space of the science of climate crisis, repetition of dramatic findings seems to null the senses and deactivate emergency response mechanisms. Scientists struggle to find key words to awaken humanity’s dulled survival instincts, with no success.

In fact, the IPCC reports’ timeline speaks volumes of failed attempts.

If you want to have an idea of what the 6^th IPCC report concludes, then think of the worst possible climate scenario you can imagine and then multiply it as many times as you want. The outcome will still fall short of the truth, because the reality of the climate emergency facing us is much worse.

Then what do we do? What can we do?

Do we ignore this report as we did with the preceding ones?

Do we continue undeterred, hoping for the entrepreneurial magic wand to save the day?

Do we continue to “beg” the representative delegates of the fossil fuel producing countries to “allow” us to use words such as “fossil fuels” in the final COP texts?

Do we continue to ask for CO2 emissions reductions, not daring to mention the source and the processes by which they are produced?

Is there an end to this hypocrisy?

Every day that goes by with us standing in the byline acting as if this doomsday concerns another planet and other peoples, deaths, destruction, pain, agony, despair, Loss & Damage of those who have not contributed in the creation of this mess, multiply.

Do you think it is time to act now?

Or do you prefer to wait until the next IPCC report, the 7^th, which is due around 2030, and - as the IPCC itself admits -, it will be too late to do anything?

When logic and science have continuously failed we need to change the narrative.

We need to bring into play the forbidden words “Liability” and “Reparations”, because this is what it’s all about.

And we need to seek the intervention of the ICC, the International Criminal Court.

Justice is the last sane resort of the victims.

 

First let us recall what happened just a few days ago:

Today, 17 March 2023, Pre-Trial Chamber II of the International Criminal Court (“ICC” or “the Court”) issued warrants of arrest for two individuals in the context of the situation in Ukraine: Mr Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin and Ms Maria Alekseyevna Lvova-Belova.

Mr Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, born on 7 October 1952, President of the Russian Federation, is allegedly responsible for the war crime of unlawful deportation of population (children) and that of unlawful transfer of population (children) from occupied areas of Ukraine to the Russian Federation (under articles 8(2)(a)(vii) and 8(2)(b)(viii) of the Rome Statute). The crimes were allegedly committed in Ukrainian occupied territory at least from 24 February 2022. There are reasonable grounds to believe that Mr Putin bears individual criminal responsibility for the aforementioned crimes, (i) for having committed the acts directly, jointly with others and/or through others (article 25(3)(a) of the Rome Statute), and (ii) for his failure to exercise control properly over civilian and military subordinates who committed the acts, or allowed for their commission, and who were under his effective authority and control, pursuant to superior responsibility (article 28(b) of the Rome Statute)[iii].

If the International Criminal Court has concluded that there are sufficient grounds to issue a warrant of arrest and prosecute President Putin, could it not reach a similar conclusion for all those who have been knowingly[iv] committing climate crimes for decades?

After all, in the case of climate crimes liability, the judges don't even need to investigate: The IPCC reports of the tens of thousands of scientists of our planet provide all the scientifically documented evidence they may ever need to initiate the procedure.

And as for the grounds for prosecution:

First of all, there is the well-known and publicized[v] fact that big oil companies

1. knew that their products and businesses would cause climate change and
2. knew that climate change would be catastrophic for life on the planet and
3. not only failed to warn future victims of climate change and cease production, but instead funded[vi] actions[vii] to challenge the science that supported the existence of climate change.

Secondly, the constant stream of scientific reports and warnings from the IPCC are enough to invalidate any plea of "ignorance of the consequences".

No, there was no ignorance.

In my humble opinion, there was and still is to this very day, a cold and calculated indifference for the victims.

It is what young climate activists call “Profit over People”

It is obvious that exorbitant profits cloud their judgement.

Perhaps the surroundings and ambiance of a Lear Jet diminishes sound judgement.

I therefore believe that the court can reasonably demonstrate that they had knowledge of the consequences of their actions.

Actions which were repeated over decades, to this very day.

As for their punishment, personally, I don’t want to see any of them behind bars. Incarceration is not the remedy to climate crimes.

Compensation is what we want. Reparations.

Their sentence must be to pronounce them fully liable for all the climate and environmental disasters committed over the decades and award to the victims, full compensations, as defined by the Loss & Damage Fund which finally, and after 30 years of efforts, was accepted at COP 27.

And they must be pronounced liable, not only for the climate damages that have occurred so far, but also for those that are expected to occur, because the climate crisis will be with us for many decades.

They should also be sentenced to fully cover all the financial needs of developing countries for the required sustainable energy transition to happen.

And finally, of course, the court should impose their mandatory 100% immediate involvement in the solutions dictated by science.

Is there a better punishment?

Can you imagine them spending the rest of their lives installing nothing but wind turbines and solar panels?

And the temperature of the planet finally to begin to drop.

Is this too much to ask?

 

Dr. Ioannis Tsipouridis

Renewable Energy Consultant Engineer

Director of RECCReC (Renewable Energy & Climate Change Research Center at TUM, Mombasa, Kenya)